Predicting moisture state of timber members in a continuously varying climate

A prerequisite for a sensible estimate of moisture induced stresses in timber members is an accurate prediction of the members’ moisture states during their service life. There are, however, an infinite number of possible moisture states for an arbitrary timber member in a natural varying climate. The naturally varying humidity is possible to describe as harmonic cycles, with different periods, superimposed. This work presents realizations of envelop curves over the possible moisture states in a timber member for some carefully chosen harmonic humidity variations. The calculations, on which the realizations were made, are based on a fully coupled transport model including a model for the influential sorption hysteresis of wood. A format containing required information suitable for assessing the “moisture” action on timber members is proposed. In addition it is illustrated how a model of high complexity and nonlinearity renders results with large degree of consistency. Large moisture gradients in a timber member are detected when variations of the humidity are frequent (daily period) and with large amplitude at high humidity levels. Overall and complete moisture changes of structural timber members with normal dimensions are found for members subjected to varying humidity with long (annual) periods. A timber member’s initial moisture state in relation to the ambient humidity can have a significant influence on both moisture gradients and overall moisture change of the member.     

Effects of carbon content and solidification rate on thermal conductivity of grey cast iron

The thermal conductivity or diffusivity of pearlitic grey irons with various carbon contents is investigated by the laser flash method. The materials are cast in controlled thermal environments and produced in three dissimilar cooling rates. The cooling rate together with the carbon content largely influence the thermal conductivity of grey iron. Linear relationships exist between the thermal conductivity and the carbon content, the carbon equivalent and the fraction of former primary solidified austenite transformed into pearlite. The work shows that optimal thermal transport properties are obtained at medium cooling rates. Equations describing the thermal conductivity of pearlite,solidified as pre-eutectic austenite, and the eutectic of grey iron are derived. The thermal conductivity of pearlitic grey iron is modeled at both room temperature and elevated temperature with good accuracy.     

Lateral buckling of beams analysed as elastically supported columns subject to a varying axial force

The stability problem for an elasticallu supported column subject to a varying axial force has been solved by means of a general numerical procedure based on Galerkin's method. Apart from the intrinsic value of the solution itself, its possible value modelling some complex stability problems in the area of restrained lateral-torsional stability problems is demonstrated and specific numerical solutions are applied to the case of lateral buckling of the free flange of a composite girder. The results obtained are discussed and suggestions for additional investigations are presented.     

Microstructural investigation of the breakdown of the protective oxide scale on a 304 steel in the presence of oxygen and water vapour at 600 °C

This article focuses on the detailed microstructural investigation of the oxide scale formed on a 304 steel in the presence of oxygen and water vapour (40%) at 600 °C. The work has been carried out using a combination of microanalytical techniques including FIB, TEM, EDX and electron diffraction. The local breakdown of the initially protective oxide scale and the growth of island/crater oxide morphology are described. Special consideration is given to the influence of the microstructure of the steel and the oxide scale on the breakdown behaviour.     

Antennal fine morphology of the threatened beetle Osmoderma eremita (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), revealed by scanning electron microscopy

The aim of this study was to characterize the antennal morphology of Osmoderma eremita, a threatened scarab beetle inhabiting tree hollows. O. eremita males produce a sex pheromone, (R)‐(+)‐γ‐decalactone, responsible mainly for the attraction of females but also other males. Gross and fine morphology of microstructures including sensilla, microsculpture and pores were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The antenna of O. eremita showed the typical lamellicorn shape of scarab beetles, with a basal scape, a pedicel, a funicle composed of five antennomeres and a club composed of three lamellae. Six different subtypes of sensilla chaetica (Ch.1 ? 6), Böhm sensilla (Bo), one subtype of sensilla basiconica (Ba.1), two subtypes of sensilla coeloconica (Co.1 ? 2), two subtypes of sensilla placodea (Pl.1 ? 2), pores and peculiar folds were described. The two sexes did not show any significant differences in the occurrence and number of the sensilla placodea, known to be responsible for the pheromone reception. Instead, some sexual differences were found on the occurrence and topology of three different microstructures: (1) one subtype of sensillum chaeticum (Ch.2) occurring on the pedicel only in males; (2) a characteristic pore occurring on the funicle only in males; (3) a peculiar fold occurring on different antennomeres of the funicle in the two sexes, on the fourth in males and on the fifth in females. A comparison between sensilla of O. eremita and those of other Scarabaeoidea is provided. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:178–191, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The relationship between chain connectivity and domain stability in the equilibrium and kinetic folding mechanisms of dihydrofolate reductase from E.coli

The role of domains in defining the equilibrium and kinetic folding properties of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Escherichia coli was probed by examining the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of a set of variants in which the chain connectivity in the discontinuous loop domain (DLD) and the adenosine-binding domain (ABD) was altered by permutation. To test the concept that chain cleavage can selectively destabilize the domain in which the N- and C-termini are resident, permutations were introduced at one position within the ABD, one within the DLD and one at a boundary between the domains. The results demonstrated that a continuous ABD is required for a stable thermal intermediate and a continuous DLD is required for a stable urea intermediate. The permutation at the domain interface had both a thermal and urea intermediate. Strikingly, the observable kinetic folding responses of all three permuted proteins were very similar to the wild-type protein. These results demonstrate a crucial role for stable domains in defining the energy surface for the equilibrium folding reaction of DHFR. If domain connectivity affects the kinetic mechanism, the effects must occur in the sub-millisecond time range.     

Identification,Synthesis, and Behavioral Activity of 5,11-Dimethylpentacosane,A Novel Sex Pheromone Component of the Greater Wax Moth,Galleria Mellonella (L.)

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), is a serious and widespread pest of the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. In contrast to most moths, for which long-range mate finding is mediated by female-produced sex pheromones, G. mellonella males attract conspecific females over long distances by emitting large amounts of a characteristic scent in combination with bursts of ultrasonic calls. The male scent for this species was previously identified as a blend of nonanal and undecanal. When these compounds were bioassayed, characteristic short-range sexual behavior, including wing fanning, was triggered in conspecific females, but the aldehyde blend failed to elicit attraction over longer distances. We identified, via analysis and synthesis, a third male-specific compound, 5,11-dimethylpentacosane. We show that it acts as a behavioral synergist to the aldehydes. In wind tunnel experiments, very few female moths responded to the aldehyde blend or to 5,11-dimethylpentacosane tested separately, but consistently showed orientation and source contact when a combination of all three compounds was applied. The level of attraction to the three-component mixture was still lower than that to male extract, indicating that the composition of compounds in the synthetic blend is suboptimal, or that additional pheromone components of G. mellonella are yet to be identified. The identification of 5,11-dimethylpentacosane is an important step for the development of an efficient long-range attractant that will be integrated with other environmentally safe strategies to reduce damage to beehives caused by wax moths.